Love One Another

Love One Another
Throughout this entire week there has been but one consistent message in all the Gospel readings. That message from Christ is; “Love one another as I have Loved you, there is no greater love than this” (John 15:12)
Why is it that we, humans who profess to be believers in the message of Jesus Christ, seem to find ways of not loving each other? We decide that because a person speaks a different language has a different ethnic background, possesses a same sex orientation, that they do not deserve the same kind of love that Jesus gave to all that he encountered.
How do we justify this kind of action? Where in scripture do we find validation for our actions? There are some who use incorrect translations or out of context statements from scripture to justify their actions, but they do so because it fits their personal agenda and makes them feel good.
This week each of the Gospels focused on LOVE, not the sexual thing that we today affiliate with love, but on the true and perfect meaning of love. That love is unselfish, kind, merciful, forgiving and not judgmental. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” (John 14:27) It is clear from this quote, that Jesus lets us know that the perceptions of the world are not the perceptions of God. He implores us in John 15:7 “If you live in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you want and it will be done for you” With Jesus as the vine and God as the “Vine grower” who tills and prunes the fine to keep it fresh and fruitful through the Holy Spirit, we need to do our part as the “branches” and keep faithful to the teachings Jesus taught us, pruning out those things that humans have inserted for the purpose of control, power, prestige and wealth. We need to speak out against injustice, as Jesus did, wherever we encounter it. We need to let our voices be heard when governments, churches, business engage in acts that are unjust and discriminatory. That is the call Christ has given to us. It is possible that, just as Paul, Barnabas, Stephen and Christ himself experienced, we may be rejected, disparaged and abandoned by even those who we thought of as friends and even our family. That should not stop us just as it did not stop them.
We need to remember Christ’s admonition in John 15:5 “because without me you can do nothing”.
We, who call ourselves believers, need to begin to act in ways that show others that we believe and have Christ in us. We need to have our actions match our words. If and when all of us begin to live in this way, then, possibly we will see magnificent changes taking place. Possibly we will witness a world where all people are respected and provided for just as Christ provided for those multitudes who followed him and turned a few loaves of bread and a few fish into enough to feed them all and still have some left over.
We are Christ’s army, a peaceful band whose acts of compassion can counteract the evil ones designs of greed and power to take control of God’s earth. AMEN
Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Web Site: www.missionstsergius.org
Blog Page: http://missionstsergius.org/blog.html
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mission_Sts_Sergius_and_Bacchus

Mission Web Site Updated

Mission Web Site Updated
The Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus web site has been updated with a link to the mission Blog, a End of Year fiscal statement and more.
You may link to the Web site by using the link below.
www.missionstsergius.org

The Essence of Faith

The Essence of Faith
Reflection on Romans 10:8-10
(Comments in Italic print are mine)
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Remember this was when their was only Jews and others who were considered Gentiles therefore in today’s society we would expand this to mean everyone who believes in Jesus Christ regardless of the religious denomination)—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Further, on in Romans 8 we find “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (The teaching Christ gave us, not some preacher who has decided what they mean and tries to justify his actions that are contrary to what Christ taught.)
Romans 11 ends with these words; “Who has known the mind of the Lord? (No human person can claim to know God’s mind or his reasons for what he does and/or allows.) Or who has been his counselor? (God does not ask advice of anyone, He and He along decides and through the Holy Spirit makes His desires known to those He chooses. It is up to those who he has chosen to carry out His commands according the God’s plan, not according to how it will affect his standing or power or financial condition.) Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" (We owe everything we have to the good graces of Almighty God. We need to acknowledge that and give thanks to Him for all He has gifted us with) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!.
Fir it is written in John 14:21 “whoever has my commands (And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38"This is the great and foremost commandment.
39"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40"On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." {Matthew 22:37 })
and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Could this be any clearer? Why is it that so many desire to place so many restrictions of loving God? Why is it so hard for us to open our minds, hearts and entire beings to giving ourselves over to God’s Love. The answer is the influence of the fallen one, who desired power equal to God and trys at every opportunity to corrupt the hearts and minds of everyone, just as he did to Jesus, by offering power, fame, and fortune. He makes people greedy and in doing so has them turning from God to the false God’s of material things.
I believe that in the above passages we can find the essence of Faith. Do we have the courage to live it? AMEN
Rev. Robert Francis Johnnene OFAMission Sts. Sergius and Bacchuswww.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mission_Sts_Sergius_and_Bacchushttp://spaces.msn.com/members/Mission-St-Sergiushttp://groups.msn.com/MissionSaintsSergiusandBacchus

Still Hope For RC GLBT Catholics

There is Hope yet for the Church
I am pleased to send you this transcript from the Los Angeles RC Diocese on the 20th Anniversary of the ministry to GLBT Catholics. This is the ministry I worked with from the beginning and the catalyst for Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
From THE TIDINGS official paper of Los Angeles Diocese
Published: Friday, May 12, 2006
Lesbian-gay ministry celebrates 20th anniversary in archdiocese
By R. W. Dellinger
In February 1986, at the end of a 40-hours' devotion at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, Archbishop Roger Mahony announced the formation of the parish-based Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics (MLGC), which was then called Communidad.
The archbishop said the goal of the new ministry was "to foster a spirit of community and fellowship among gay Catholics so that they can offer and receive mutual support in living out their lives of faith with the church."
Last Saturday evening, some 500 gay and lesbian Catholics, along with relatives and friends, celebrated the 20th anniversary of MLGC in the same Hollywood church.
"The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is blessed in so many wonderful ways by the work and leadership of those associated with this important ministry," said Father Brian Doran of Holy Angels Church of the Deaf, who presided at the 90-minute liturgy, signed and read a letter from Cardinal Mahony.
"Your commitment to live out your baptismal call to discipleship is an inspiration to us all. And on behalf of all whose lives you have touched through your ministry, I offer my deep gratitude."
Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Carlos Alarcon, pastor of Santa Rosa Church in San Fernando, and Jesuit Father Mike Mandala, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, were the principal concelebrants along with nearly a dozen other priests. The liturgy began with dancers followed by the choir and congregation singing a rousing "Somos El Cuerpo de Cristo" ("We Are the Body of Christ"). Members of the entrance procession placed rainbow colored banners behind the altar.
In his homily, Father Alarcon said local gays and lesbians had become stronger during the last two decades by experiencing the "pride of belonging" to the church. He talked about the challenges parents faced in learning more about homosexuality and accepting their homosexual children.
"The story of this ministry is about courage," he said. "During these 20 years, people have committed their lives to bring faith and hope to men and women who were in danger of losing their faith or experiencing hopelessness.
"All of us, gay or straight, parents or children, relatives and friends, we who have the privilege to being called in any way in the ministry with gay and lesbians Catholics, have become aware that we are church, that we are a big church --- and that we have a place in the church because of our baptism.
"All of us have been called to stay within the church," he stressed, "with dignity, with responsibility, with commitment, with faith and, above all, with love."
After the Mass, Father Mandala said he was proud of the ministry at Blessed Sacrament, one of eight parishes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese with lesbian and gay outreach programs. The pastor pointed out that talk was cheap, but when the spirit was genuinely alive and working, action prevailed.
"People in the Ministry with Lesbians and Gays here are involved in the full ministry of this Blessed Sacrament community," he reported. "They're involved with each other. They're involved in the carnival. They're involved as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, as ushers.
"They're involved in every facet of the community. That speaks of the spirit of God with them and with us."
Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) 2006 awards were presented to eight individuals for their outstanding service to MLGC: Armida and Louis Cisneros, Brad Fuller, Carolyn and Robert Aldapa, David Kennedy, Lucille Sevigny and Fran Ruth.
Ruth, who coordinates the Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics, said while it had grown greatly during the last 20 years it was still one of the "best kept secrets" in the archdiocese, and people were always surprised to see their booth at the annual Religious Education Congress.
"What else could be done is for more people to step up and not be afraid to say, 'Hey, I'm gay. I'm Catholic.' Or really what they should say is 'Hey, I'm Catholic. And I also happen to be gay.'
"I think if more people have the courage to do that, it will grow. And, hopefully, one day we won't have a need for this ministry. Hopefully, one day we'll just be all together."
Submitted by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Holliston MAwww.missionstsergius.orghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mission_Sts_Sergius_and_Bacchushttp://spaces.msn.com/members/Mission-St-Sergiushttp://groups.msn.com/MissionSaintsSergiusandBacchus

God Loves All His Children

God Loves All His Children